Out-of-pocket stallholders have finally been offered compensation after the cancellation of this year’s Scottish Game Fair.
However, many will have to accept losses that could run into thousands of pounds after the Scottish Game and Conservancy Trust was able to secure just a 50% refund on stand payments.
Almost 40,000 people had been expected to visit Scone Palace in June for the annual showcase of outdoor pursuits and conservation, only for the fair to be curtailed by severe flooding.
The decision forced upon the Scottish Game and Conservancy Trust a charity that relies on income from the event left both the organisers and trade stand holders devastated.
For almost three months, the charity has been attempting to hammer out an agreement with loss adjustors to offer its supporters some recompense.
Contractually, the organisers said they were not required to offer any refunds but sought to do so to support their valued trade stand holders.
That wish required extensive and lengthy discussions with loss adjustors and matters were complicated further by the number of events hit by dreadful summer weather.
Among them was the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Game Fair, which should have taken place at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, in July, only to also fall foul of incessant rainfall.
In a statement, the trust said: ”After much negotiation with our insurers, we are now in a position to offer stand holders a 50% refund for their stand payment.”
Continued…
”We have written personally to all stand holders with details of this refund, plus options to donate their refund to the charity (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust) if they wish.
”Again, we thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”
The announcement has been welcomed by trade stand holders, but many will remain substantially out of pocket.
One long-time supporter, Angus Anglers director Neil Anderson, said the work, effort and staff time, together with the stock purchased for the event, meant the compensation covered only a very small part of his firm’s losses.
”It has been a year to forget, as we also attend the CLA show every year and it too was cancelled,” he said. ”Fortunately we had all our expenditure refunded for that show almost immediately.
”Fifty percent of our stand payment for the Scottish Game Fair is better than nothing but this has still been painful.”
Mr Anderson said he had not decided whether he would be taking a stand at the event next year.
The GWCT Scottish Game Fair will next year celebrate its 25th anniversary at Scone Palace on Friday July 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7.
The committee has said that it is working hard to put together ”an extra-special show”, both to celebrate the silver anniversary and to ”rekindle the spirit of the fair” following the disappointment at this year’s truncated event.
Photo Phil Hannah